Outreach activities of the Institute of Integrative Biology and the School of Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool

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College careers talks

Over the years I’ve given many presentations at schools and colleges about what the biological sciences are like at University. So far this year I’ve been to Xaverian College (http://www.xaverian.ac.uk/) in Manchester and King Edward VI College (https://www.kedst.ac.uk/) in Stourbridge near Birmingham.

Xaverian College is in central Manchester and has high expectations of its students. Many continue to higher education and each January the College holds an event with speakers from many universities and subjects areas. This begins support for the students to decide on their career paths post A-level. I go along to talk about the biological sciences. I feel that talking about the subject content is better left to perusal of the websites and prospectuses, and that I should rather include my personal insight from my own experience. My focus is always on the ways that university differs from school, and what sorts of careers are open to those with biological science degrees.

King Edward VI College is on a (large) traffic island in the centre of Stourbridge near Birmingham. The college also has great ambitions for its students. My talk there is at a similar careers event in March that starts the path to UCAS applications and university. This time my topic is the biomedical sciences, and I explain about the important choice between accredited degrees that are a direct pathway to roles within the NHS and non-vocational degrees that can leave additional career paths more open. I also talk about the difference between medical and biomedical degrees and careers.

Both colleges have a large and diverse group of students who take these career events very seriously and ask perceptive questions. Every year, it is a pleasure to see their enthusiasm. It is also great to answer questions from their teachers, who act as hosts during the events.